Folding workbench for power tools



Dec- 15, 1953 L. F. Ku'RscHNER FOLDING WORKBENCH FOR POWER TOOLS 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1949 D 1 L. F. KURSCHNER FOLDING WORKBENCHFOR POWER TOOLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1949 Dec. 15, 1 53 L. F.KURSCHNER 6 FOLDING WORKBENCH FOR POWER TOOLS Filed May 14, 1949 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Zia/@2050?" ii I I Patented Dec. 15, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE FOLDING WORKBENCH FOR POWER TOOLS Lloyd F. Kurschner,Minneapolis, Application May 14, 1949, Serial No. 93,251

4 Claims. (01. 144-286) This invention relates to a bench or supportingstructure which is particularly adapted for use as a means forconveniently and compactly supporting a number of power tools.

It is an object of the invention to provide a compact bench constructionhaving two leg units which are shiftable from expanded to collapsedpositions and so arranged that the entire unit is in an operative toolsupporting position, whether collapsed or expanded. In its collapsedposition the device can be readily pushed into a small space fortemporary storage or it can be expanded so that it will provide asupporting structure which covers a greater floor area and thereby ismore steady than when the leg units are drawn closely together. Ineither case, however, the device can be used and power tools thereon canbe used without danger of the bench tipping.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bench for power toolsincluding advantageous means for supporting belt driven tools in such away that the belt drive can be readily tightened or released.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power tool bench withmeans for supporting a pulley driven shaft and wherein means is providedfor conveniently and efiiciently varying the speed of a variable speedpulley carried by the pulley shaft support.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bench structureincluding means for quickly and easily varying the vertical position ofa tool post support such as might be used in connection with a smalldrill press attachment or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a caster arrangement inconnection with the bench supporting leg units which will cause thecasters to remain relatively steady when the leg units are expanded totheir more usual operative position.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the benchcan be readily transported by means of Wheels larger than ordinaryfurniture casters when moving of the structure for a considerabledistance or over a rough floor space is desired. The above and otherobjects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from thefollowing description made in connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout theviews, and, in which;

Fig. l is a side elevational view of an embodi- 2 ment of the inventionwith the pulley speed adjusting means in full and dotted lines inalternate positions thereof.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view showing the leg units in full anddotted lines in their expanded and collapsed positions respectively.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken approximately on the line3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken approximately on the line4 l. of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken approximately on the line5-5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail taken approximately on the line6-6 of Fig. 1.

The bench includes a pair of leg units Ill and H. The leg unit It]includes legs i2 having a lower cross-member l3 and an uppercross-member 14. There is also an intermediate cross-member I5.

The leg unit II is constructed similarly to the leg unit [0 and has apair of legs It, a lower cross-member I! and an upper cross-member 18.The leg units l0 and H are connected at their upper ends by means ofhinges Hi, there being a hinge for each of the adjacent leg elements I2and I6, so that the leg units l0 and II can be swung toward and. awayfrom each other.

Pivotally connected to the leg unit [6, shown in Fig. 2, is a brace 20mounted on a pivot pin 2|. The brace 20 is provided with a slot 22having an angular end 23. A stud 24 on the leg l2 shown in Fig. 2.slidably fits the slot 22. In the full line position of Fig. 2 the stud24 is at the right hand end ofthe slot 22 and the leg units l0 and IIare expanded. When the leg units are positioned together toapproximately the dotted line positions shown in Fig. 2 and the stud 24is seated in the angular ofiset 23 of the slot 22, said leg unitswillQbe held in their contracted position as indicated by the dottedlines.

The legs l2 and I6 are provided with casters 25. As shown in Fig. 6, thecaster includes a spindle 26 and an offset roller 21. When the leg unitsare collapsed the caster spindles are fairly close to upright, but whenthe legs are expanded the spindles 26 lie at a decided angle to thevertical. As a result the rollers 21 will tend to assume and maintainthe position shown in Fig. 6, thereby rendering the'bench less readilyshiftable over the floor when work is being done with power toolssupported by the bench.

The leg unit It! has an additional pair of wheels thereon. The wheels 28are considerably larger than the caster rollers 21. Each wheel 28 ismounted on a member 29 which is pivotally connected at 30 to each of thelegs 12. The members 29 have a cross-member 3| extendin therebetween. Itis longer than the distance between the legs I2, as shown in Fig. 1.Adjacent each end of the cross member 3|, and on each leg I2, is arotatable latch member 32 which can be swung upwardly or downwardly tohold the cross-member 3| in a raised or lowered position, andconsequently to change the vertical positions of the wheels I8, so thatthey can be in an inoperative position as shown in Fig, 2 full lines orin a bench transporting position as indicated in dotted lines in thatfigure.

In conjunction with the wheels 2| 1 have pro vided a pair of handles 33which are connected to the legs l2 by means of hinges 34. When thehandles 33 are swung out so that they extend from the bench, as shown inFig. 2, and the v wheels 28 are lowered, the structure can be more 'orless balanced on the two wheels 28 and trundled in the manner-ofa.wheelbarrow.

Extending across the upper ends of the legs I2 is a bench top element 35which preferably is rigidly connected to the leg unit. It is adapted tosupport bearing brackets 36 which carry a' horizontally disposed pulleyshaft. 31.

Extending across the upper ends of the legs l6 and secured to the legcross-member 13 by means of a suitable hinge or hinges 38 is a bench topsection 39. This bench top section is connected to a lever 4t which ispivotally supported at M to the leg [6 shown in Fig. 2'. The lever 40extends to the right through the leg unit II and terminates in a handleportionv 40a. The other end of the lever 40, extends beyond the pivot 4iand is connected by astrap 42 to the hinged bench top section 39. Thisbench top section may support a lathe bed 43 or other suitable powertool. In Fig. 1 the right hand end of the bench top is shown carrying apair of bearing brackets 44 and 45. A lathe head plate 46 isshownononeend of a, shaft 41, which is, carried by the brackets 44 and45., The shaft 41 has a set of pulleys 48- thereon which are ofdifferent sizes to "givedilferent gear ratios and the pulley set '48 isdisposedoppositely thereto a set of pulleys 43 on the shaft '31, whichis located on the relatively stationary bench top section 35. As shownin Fig. '4 a belt 50 connects the pulley unit!!! with the, pulley; unit49. Inorder to properly tensi n the belt 50 the lever 40 is pulledupwardly at its long end to tilt the hinged bench top section 39 andit's pulleys 48 away 'fro'rhfthe pulleys 49. IIrFig. 1 the lever 35shown extending through the open leg unit l andjust above theintermediate. cross-member I which extends between the legs I2. A wedge52 i 'slidably supported on the cross-member to hold the lever in anyone of a number of angular positions. A bolt 53 is connected to thewedge 52 and extends through a slotted block 54 the intermediatecrossinember 15 so that the wedge canbe adjustably held in differentpositions. Y V g It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the shaft '41 whichcarries the lathe headstock it may have a cicular saw 55 on its appositeend and 'a suitable work rest 56 may be positioned adjacent the saw 55and on a bracket 51 which is mounted on the extreme end of the bench topsection 39.

A pair of relatively short vertical members 58 and 59 extend downwardlyfrom the stationary bench top section 35 to, the intermediate horizontalcross-member l5. Extending from the members 58 and 59 arefplvoted pulleyshaft carriers 60 and GI and their outer ends support a short pulleyshaft 62 having pulleys 63 and 64 thereon. The pulley 63 is connected bya belt 65 to a pulley 66 on the horizontal pulley shaft 31 on the benchtop section 35. The pulley 54 is of the variable speed expansible flangetype which is well-known in the pulley art and iii mechanical artsgenerally.

Pivotally connected to the lower cross-member l3; which extends betweenlegs II, is a lever 61, which terminates at its upper end in a handleportion 68. Beneath the handle portion and, as viewed in Fig. 1, thelever 61 is provided with a cut-out portion 63 which slopes upwardly asindicated in Fig. 1. The pulley shaft support 60 rests upon the loweredge of the cut-out 69. When the lever 51 is shifted to the left handdotted position shown in Fig. 1 the pulley shaft support 60 will drop,the complementary pulley shaft support Bl also dropping. When the lever61 is moved to the right it will raise the pulley shaft 60 by reason ofthe camming or wedged action of the upwardly sloping surface of thebottom of the cut-out 69 in said lever 61. The position of the lever 61can be adjustably fixed by means of a wing nut 70 on a bolt H whichpasses through an arcuate slot 72 extending generally across the upperportion of the lever 61 below the handle 68.

When the pulley shaft is raised by movement of the lever 61 it willplace added tension on a belt 13 which connects the variable speedpulley 64 with a pulley 14 on the shaft 75a of a motor 15. This addedtension will expand the pulley B4 axially and the belt 13 will work on asmaller circle of the pulley 64 thereby increasing the speed of rotationof shafts 62 and 31, so that, any tools connected to the shaft 37 willhave their speed increased. As is generally known in connection withvariable speed pulleys, when the lever 57 is shifted to the left thespring loaded movable side or flange of the pulley 64 will move towardthe other flange and cause the belt 73 to work out to a larger workingcircle and the speed of rotation of the shifting will be reduced.

Referring back to the motor 15, it will be seen that it is carried onthe upper end of a diagonal support 15b, which in turn is supportedonly. at its lower end by a frame member 15c, providing a slightlyresilient mounting for the motor and properly balancing it on the frame.

Extending upwardly between the lower leg unit cross-member l3 and thestationary bench top section 35 is a pair of members 15 having adjacentupper portions cut away to provide a slot H. In this slot is located alever 18 mounted on a pivotpin 19 which extends between the 'uprights16. The lever 18 has its inner end lying beneath a tool post guideopening formed, in the stationary bench top section 35. A toolpost. 8|is shown extending through the opening 81! and, of course, is slidablethereon. The bottom of the post 8] rests upon the inner end of the leverl8 so that vertical manipulation of the lever will raise or lowersaidtool post. i

The lever I8 is provided with a series of teeth 82 which extend acrossthe upper medial portion thereof and these teeth are selectively engagedby a lockingmember 83 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 88' carried bythe upper ends of the vertical members 16.

The tool post 8| carries a pair of pulleys 85 which is shown inconnection with a drill press unit as, having a pulley a1 thereon. Abelt, as

extends from the pulley 81 around the pulley 8-5 which is actually adouble pulley unit as shown in Fig. 2. A belt then extends downwardlyaround a pulley 89 on the main pulley shaft 3''! which is driven asdescribed above.

When the lever 18 is pressed downwardly at its outer or handle end itwill push the tool post 8| upwardly and tighten the belt 88. The catchmember 83 can be dropped into engagement with one of the teeth 82 on thelever 58 to hold the belt 88 in a tight driving condition. Of course,when the catch 83 is released and the tool post BI is dropped, the belt88 will be freed from the driving pulley 89 and the tool on the post 8|will be rendered inoperative.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided abench for power tools which is capable of operatively supporting anumber of different types of power tools so that a rather completeworkshop can be contained in a very small space. The main pulley shaft37 can be driven with variable speeds through the medium of theadjustment lever 61' and devices driven from the pulley unit 49 on theshaft 31 can be given additional speed variation by means of thedifferent diameters of the pulleys on the unit 49. Means is provided fortilting the movable bench top section 39 about its hinge 38 to serve asa pulley drive tightening means and means for accomplishing the samepurpose has been described just above in connection with the verticalmovability of the tool post 81.

The device is one which can be moved on its supporting casters in itscollapsed or its expanded position although in the expanded positionshown in full lines in Fig. 2 the casters will not swing freely abouttheir spindles 29 shown better in Fig. 6, by reason of the divided angleto which the caster spindles are tilted when the frame is expanded. As aresult the bench will remain rather firmly in position on the floorunder such conditions. When it is collapsed the caster spindles are morenearly vertical and the bench can be readily shifted in any directionover the floor.

For transportation or movement of the structure over considerabledistances or on rough floors, I have provided the wheels 28 and thehandles 33 so that the device can be shifted much in the manner of awheelbarrow or a two-wheeled cart.

While my apparatus is adaptable for use in commercial machine shops, itis of particular advantage to home workshop owners, since a large numberand variety of machine tools can be mounted on a structure which takesup little space. When the leg units are collapsed toward each other theentire structure can be conveniently placed in a small corner or movedinto a closet when not in use, and it takes up no greater amount ofspace when the legs are expanded to give the unit more stability.

The various controls and the like are all mounted on one side of thestructure so that the operator can readily change different parts of theoperating mechanism with facility.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, ar-

rangement and proportions of the various parts without departing fromthe scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a bench of the class described, a pair of downwardly diverginglegs at each end of the bench, means hingedly connecting the legs ofeach pair for inwardly folding movement, longitudinal tie membersconnecting the legs on each side of the bench at their upper ends, a topstructure comprising two separate and independent longitudinal topmembers each overlying the legs on one side of the bench, one of the topmembers being rigidly secured to the respective legs, hinges attachingthe other top member to the respective tie member for outward anddownward tilting movement, a lever extending transversely of the benchand intermediately pivoted to one of the legs that the tilting topmember overlies, a strap connecting the lever at one end to the outerportion of the tiltable top member, and means holding the lever frommoving pivotally.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the hinges are outwardly ofthe longitudinal center line of the tilting top member whereby therespective top member is under strain to move out of a tilted position.

3. In a bench of the class described, a pair of downwardly diverginglegs at each end of the bench hingedly connected for inward foldingmovement, a pair of top members, one of which connects the legs on oneside of the bench being rigidly secured thereto, the other top memberconnecting the legs on the other side of the bench and being hingedlyattached thereto for outward and downward tilting movement, and meansfor tilting the last-noted top member.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 in which the hinged attachment ofthe last-noted top member is outward of the longitudinal center line ofsaid member.

LLOYD F. KURSCI-DIER.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 257,214 Cultum May 2, 1882 257,964 Medart May 16, 1882 528,608Richter Nov. 6, 1894 932,683 Darrow Aug. 31, 1909 1,005,063 NordstromOct. 3, 1911 1,135,767 Cheshire Apr. 13, 1915 1,191,687 Gillett July 18,1916 1,261,184 Taylor Apr. 2, 1918 1,284,512 Werner Nov. 12, 19181,630,279 Stroop et al. May 31, 1927 1,828,248 Hallowell et a1 Oct. 20,1931 1,862,911 Snyder June 14, 1932 2,139,470 Schmeiser Dec. 6, 19382,162,294 Baldwin June 13, 1939 2,278,216 Rich Mar. 31, 1942 2,349,197Rehfeld May 16 1944

